A Creative Week Celebrating Grandparents and Grandchildren
A free national school initiative from Tina.
The drawing that started it all
This simple drawing of a pig leaning on a fence was created during a video call between Tina and her grandchild.
Although they were over 100 miles apart, they spent twenty minutes drawing, talking and laughing together.
When they finished, Tina realised something important.
They had created a memory.
Not just a drawing.
A moment that could be remembered for years.
That experience became the inspiration for Who’s Your Art Buddy?
What is Who’s Your Art Buddy?
A free classroom activity where children create a drawing with their grandparent and bring that shared experience back into school.
Step 1 – Start in school
Children begin a guided drawing activity.
Step 2 – Go home
The artwork is completed by a grandparent using Tina’s short video lesson.
Step 3 – Return to school
The finished work becomes part of a classroom Show & Tell celebration.
The heart of the programme
Every page includes two simple prompts:
“My Art Buddy is…”
“They said this about my artwork…”
These words transform the experience.
Children return to school not just with a drawing, but with:
a shared conversation
a moment of encouragement
a memory created with a grandparent
This becomes the centrepiece of the classroom celebration.
Inclusion for every child
While grandparents are at the heart of the programme, we understand that not every child may have a grandparent available.
Children are welcome to choose a special older family member or family friend as their Art Buddy.
The focus remains the same: a meaningful connection between a child and an older generation.
Why this programme exists
Grandparents often play a uniquely important role in a child’s emotional world.
They bring time, attention, stories and encouragement that children remember long after the moment has passed.
Who’s Your Art Buddy? was created to give that relationship a simple way to come alive through creativity.
Grandparents Near and Far
Some children are lucky enough to see their grandparents every week.
Others may only see them a few times each year.
Who’s Your Art Buddy? was inspired by a drawing session between Tina and her grandchild while they were over 100 miles apart.
For families separated by distance, this project provides a simple reason to connect, create, and share a moment together.
Why schools take part
• Free and fully resourced •
• No teacher preparation required •
• Fits into Art, SPHE, Wellbeing or SESE •
• Encourages intergenerational connection •
• Creates a whole-school gallery moment •
• Designed for early October classroom calendars •
What you receive
• Printable worksheets •
• Teacher guidance (light-touch, simple delivery) •
• QR video lessons from Tina •
When it runs
Recommended from 5th-9th or 12th -16th of October, aligning naturally with Grandparents-focused themes in schools.
Register your school
Join the pilot rollout and receive full classroom access.
Places are limited for the first wave of participating schools.